English Meaning & Definitions
Disagreeable to the taste, smell, or sight; morally offensive or disreputable.
- “The detective investigated a group of unsavory characters lurking near the docks.”
- “She tried to avoid getting involved in the unsavory business dealings of her former colleagues.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “unsavory”.
Derived from Middle English 'unsavouri', combining the negative prefix 'un-' (not) with 'savory' (pleasing in taste or smell, from Old French 'savoure', from Latin 'sapor' meaning taste or flavor). Over time, the meaning expanded metaphorically from lacking physical taste or being unpalatable to describing morally offensive, disagreeable, or disreputable people, places, or activities.
Think of 'un-' (not) + 'savory' (delicious or pleasant). If food is not savory, it tastes bad; if a person or situation is not savory, they are morally bad or distasteful.
Frequently Asked Questions About “unsavory”
1. What is the meaning of “unsavory” in English?
In English, unsavory (adjective) is defined as: “Disagreeable to the taste, smell, or sight; morally offensive or disreputable.”.
2. How do you use “unsavory” in a sentence?
“The detective investigated a group of unsavory characters lurking near the docks.”
3. What are English synonyms of “unsavory”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “unsavory”?
Derived from Middle English 'unsavouri', combining the negative prefix 'un-' (not) with 'savory' (pleasing in taste or smell, from Old French 'savoure', from Latin 'sapor' meaning taste or flavor). Over time, the meaning expanded metaphorically from lacking physical taste or being unpalatable to describing morally offensive, disagreeable, or disreputable people, places, or activities.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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